Automatic coupling for toy trains



Dec. 1 9, 1939. ERB

AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR TOY TRAINS Filed July 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. HrHz/wn Z7 5,

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 19, 1939.

A. ERQ 2,183,608

AUTOMATIC GOUPLIHG FOR TOY TRAINS Filed July 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2EuLM' ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITEE STATES PATENT OFFECE Claims.

This invention relates to toy railroads and particularly to systems ofthis class in which the rolling stock is automatically driven. What Iaim to accomplish is to efiect the automatic coupling together of anytwo units on the approach of one such unit toward the other and theuncoupling of any two units in a train by electrical means and withouthandling of the train or parts thereof.

* The coupling is accomplished by resort to a coupling member (termedherein the primary coupling member) arranged on one of the two cars orother units to be connected and which normally tends, as by gravity, toassume coupling position but is normally held from assuming suchposition by novel means on said unit which, however, is caused by theother unit on the mentioned approach to release said member so that itassumes coupling relation to the complementary coupling member(hereinafter termed the secondary coupling member) on such other unit.

As for the control, given a coupling member on one of two adjoiningunits which is normally urged to but retractive from coupling position Iprovide electro-magnetic retracting means therefor also on the unit, andfor the energizing of the magnet by remote control through at least onestationary elongated conductor element (hereinafter by way of exampletaken as a certain track) to extend lengthwise of the path of travel ofsaid unit. said unit providing means to electri ally connect saidelement with the magnet. In one adaptation, given said member, theretracting means, and a stationary elongated conductor elementelectrically connected with one terminal of the magnet windings, andthere being on the unit an exposed conductor element likewise connectedwith the other terminal of the magnet windings, there is a flexibleconductor extendin from the stationary element and having a free endadapted to be contacted with the exposed or unit-carried element.

The invention also makes possible uncoupling of any two units in a trainof three or more units.

Usually, and as herein set forth, the circuit for controlling theretractors will have a source of energy independent from that fordriving the motor of the train, thus not to interfere with the drivingof the train.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of two adjoining units of a train, partly insection to show the coupling members and the means for controlling theprimary coupling member;

Fig. 2 shows, isometrically, the secondary coupling member;

Fig. 3 shows the primary coupling member and the means which normallyholds it from assuming coupling position, this view being alsoisometric;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuit according to oneform of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional longitudinal view of one of the units with so muchof the circuit as is necessary to illustrate the other form of theinvention; and

Fig. 6 is a similar View illustrating a modification oi the retractor.

Referring, first, to Figs. 1 to 4:

Let i be the body of one of two train units to be coupled, being hereshown as the body of the locomotive, though it might be of a car. in thecase of a locomotive and following a known construction it is supportedby a truck pivoted thereto at 3 and equipped with wheels '5, the wheelsbeing back of the pivot. Pivoted also at 3 and above the truck is adraw-bar terminating a transversely elongated loop 5a and which, byresting on the truck and wiping against a superposed wall of the unit,supports the latter on the truck. Essentially, what is so far materialis that the unit has, here afforded by the draw-bar equipped with a loopas 5o, what I have termed the secondary coupling member.

7 is the body of the other of two train units to be coupled, a car. Itis support by a truck pivoted at the center thereof to such body to turnas usual around a vertical axis, and wheels 9. In suitable superposedguides i8 arranged on the body in its longitudinal central verticalplane is vertically movable a coupling pin ll constituting theaforementioned primary coupling member, its fall being limited by a headlid thereon. On bein allowed to fall when it is opposed to the loop 55coupling of course results as usual. According to this invention the pinis adapted to be held elevated, or retracted, but so as to be releasedfor eilecting coupling of the two units together when one approaches theother, as follows:

6n the body I is a pair of supports I2 (here hooks) for means to engagethe coupling pin irictionally so as to support it in retracted position,such means being here a rubber band whi h is held somewhat stretched bythe supports; it extends substantially horizontally and crosswise of thebody 1 and between it and the coupling pin. When one unit approaches theother means on the unit having the body I is to press this band from thecoupling pin so that the latter may fall to enter the loop 5a. For thispurpose such means is here bifurcated and takes the form of a wire Hiwhich may be soldered to the draw-bar 5i and affords projections Hia(here hook-shaped) reaching toward the other unit at the same level asthe band and arranged to engage it both sides of the coupling pin. Theprojections should reach sufficiently toward the latter unit so thatwhen, on the approach, the coupling pin is opposed or about -pposed toor over the loop they will repress the band suificiently to permit saidpin to fall. The means l3 in effect constitutes a buffer on the unithaving the pin which receives the impact of the other unit and inresponse thereto releases the pin.

Each retractor comprises an electro-magnet l5 whose armature is here anelastic strip it normally retracted from the core of the magnet, themagnet and a suitable support ll for the armature being here mounted onthe floor of the body of the same unit as has the primary couplingmember. The armature may have its free end connected with the couplingpin by a flexible connection is which extends through an opening la inthe end wall of the latter unit equipped with a guide l9. Fig. 6 shows amodified form of the retractor and the means to connect its armaturewith the coupling pin. The magnet I5 and its armature iii may be thesame as before. But there is a spring contact-blade 25 on the armaturenormally held against a contact 2! on and insulated from an extensionMia of the support it, said contact being in circuit with the magnet, asat 22. (In short, there here exists the buzzer type ofmagnet-and-armature device, affording a sound-signal to the operatorwhen the magnet is energized to effect rise of the coupling pin foruncoupling.) The armature in this case when actuated tilts a lever 23pivoted in a support 24 and having its free end engaged under the headlia of the coupling pin.

Assume the units are inter-coupled. Energizing of the magnet lifts thepin clear of loop 5a so'that, as by the locomotive being started, theunits may be parted.

Referring, now, to Fig. 4: There are the usual three rails 25 on two ofwhich the units travel and the third one forming, with one of the firsttwo, parts of the circuit for driving the locomotive which, it will beunderstood, is equipped with a motor in such circuit. Paralleling therails and here outward of them there will be as many conductive tracks26 as there are units in the train having primary coupling members andretractors. A conductor 2i including the secondary of a transformer Thas one end connected to one of the rails 25 and its other end portionbranched with as many branches Ella as there are tracks 26, to whichthey are respectively connected. Each branch includes a manuallyoperable circuitcloser 28. The structure of each unit having a magnet isconductive but in a laterally project ing bracket 29 thereof it carries,insulated from such bracket at 3! a conductive shoe device hereconsisting of a wire stem 3! in which is journaled a roller 32 sopositioned as to run on one of the tracks 26. This shoe device is incircuit with the magnet of the unit through a wire 33, the magnet beingin turn grounded on the unit, as by a wire 34; both wires should beinsulated, as shown at 36 in Fig. 6. The construction is such that ifthe circuit-branch corresponding to any unit is closed by itscircuit-closer 28, with the corresponding coupling pin in couplingposition, such pin will be retracted; and the pin will remain heldretracted by the means l3 not only to permit parting of the train onforward movement of the locomotive but so that when some other unitequipped with a secondary coupling member causes its means [4 to impingeagainst the means [3 inter-coupling of the two units will resultautomatically.

In Fig. 5 the circuit is as follows: From ground (say aiforded by one ofthe rails 25) it is in part formed by the unit; thence a conductor 3'!extends to the magnet 38; thence a conductor 39 extends throughinsulation 40 in the roof of the unit body and along and exterior of theroof to an insulator ll; and finally another conductor 42 leads fromground G (which'may be afforded by the mentioned rail) through thesecondary of the transformer T and terminates in a conductive Wand oranother contact 33. (The armature l6 and connection l8 are here shown asin Fig. 1.) This system dispenses with the tracks, shoes and relativelymore complicated circuit-connections first described. The operator holdsthe wand in his hand and if it is required to uncouple any two units hetouches the exposed portion of the conductor 39 of the relatively aftone of the two units with the wand; and this he may do at any point inthe train regardless of the number of units it contains.

The energy may of course be derived from the same source as that whichdrives the motor of the locomotive; but I prefer to provide an independent energy source, as T, for the magnet, so as to avoid interferencewith the train-driving circuit and other disadvantages.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a toy railroad system, the combination of a traveling unit, anelectrically energizable device thereon, a stationary elongatedconductor element adapted to extend lengthwise of the path of travel ofthe unit, a stationary source of electrical energy, said unit having aportion thereof electro-conductive and in permanent electrical contactwith said element, and means to form with said portion of the unit andsaid element an electric circuit including said device and energysource, said means having a portion forming one terminal of the circuitand arranged on and in exposed relation to the unit and a flexibleportion forming the other terminal of the circuit and movable intocontact with the portion forming the first circuit terminal.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 characterized by said exposedportion extending generally lengthwise of the unit.

3. In a toy railroad system, the combination of a traveling unit, anelectrically energizable device thereon, a stationary elongatedconductor element adapted to extend lengthwise or" the path of travel ofthe unit, a stationary source of electrical energy, said unit having aportion thereof electro-conductive and in permanent electrical contactwith said element, and means to form with said portion of the unit andsaid element an electric circuit including said device and energysource, said means having a portion forming one terminal of the circuitand arranged on and in exposed relation to the unit and a flexibleportion extending from said element and forming the other terminal ofthe circuit and movable into contact with the portion forming the firstcircuit terminal.

4. In a toy railroad system, the combination of a train of units eachhaving an electrically energizable device, and an electric circuitsystem having one part thereof adapted to extend length- Wise of thepath of travel of the train and electrically connected with one side ofeach device and other parts of the system arranged on the respectiveunits and electrically connected with the opposite sides of therespective devices, said system including means, independent of thetrain, to close the circuit through any one independently of theremainder of said other parts when the train is at any point in its pathof travel.

5. In a toy railroad system, the combination, with two adjoining trainunits one of which has a pivoted secondary coupling member, a pinforming a primary coupling member and guided by and movable in the otherunit into and out of position therein for coupling engagement with thesecondary member and normally urged into said position, and an elasticlength on the secondnamed unit held by the latter in crossing relationto and normally held bearing against the pin but movable to release thelatter and arranged to be so moved by a part of the first-named unitindependent of the secondary coupling member on approach of one unittoward the other.

ARTHUR ERB.

